32 THE FAITHFUL NURSE.

and hastened forward to meet him. Maurice looked
grieved and vexed when he saw her surrounded by the
boys, all rudely looking at her; but running hastily
towards her, exclaimed, “ My good kind nurse, how

glad I am to see you!”

and giving her his arm, and
relieving her of her basket, he led her towards the house.

“Nurse! He called her nurse!” said Dick; “then
she is not his grandmother. I did not suppose she
was,”

“| fear she will think us but a rude wild set of boys,”
said Frank Henley. “T could not treat an old person
so rudely.”

“Why, it was all in fun,” said Dick and Bob, look-
ing rather ashamed. “It was only fun. I would not
harm the good old lady for anything.”

About half an hour after this, Maurice, with his old
nurse and Mr. Harding, were seen leaving the house
together, and quitting the grounds, proceeded down the
road towards the village,

In less than an hour, Maurice and Mr. Harding re-
turned together. Mr. Harding went into the house,
and Maurice approached the play-ground.

“ Now, Bob,” said Frank Henley, “ if Maurice was a
quarrelsome, cross fellow, you and Dick would have a
battle with him for your treatment of his old nurse ;
for he looked much vexed when he saw how she was
situated.” But Maurice came towards them with his
usual pleasant smile.